Chapter 21

Kishkindha Kanda - The Empire of Holy Monkeys

VERSE 1

ततो निपतिताम् ताराम् च्युताम् ताराम् इव अंबरात्
शनैः आश्वासयामास हनूमान् हरि यूथपः

tato nipatitām tārām cyutām tārām iva aṃbarāt
śanaiḥ āśvāsayāmāsa hanūmān hari yūthapaḥ

SYNONYMS

tataḥ: then | ambarāt cyutām tārām iva: from sky, fallen, a star, like | nipatitām tārām: fallen to ground, at Tara | hari yūthapaḥ hanūmān: monkey's, leader, Hanuma | śanaiḥ āśvāsayāmāsa: slowly, consoled. |

TRANSLATION

Hanuma, the leader of monkeys, then neared and slowly consoled Tara who has fallen to ground like a star from sky. [4-21-1]

VERSE 2

गुण दोष कृतम् जंतुः स्वकर्म फल हेतुकम्
अव्यग्रः तद् अवाप्नोति सर्वम् प्रेत्य शुभ अशुभम्

guṇa doṣa kṛtam jaṃtuḥ svakarma phala hetukam
avyagraḥ tad avāpnoti sarvam pretya śubha aśubham

SYNONYMS

jantuḥ: living beings | guṇa doṣa kṛtam: merit, demerit, doings [whether done in good intention or bad] | phala hetukam: results, cause of | sarvam tat: all, that | śubha a śubham karma: good, not, good, deed | pretya: on demise | a vyagraḥ avāpnoti: un, repentantly, one gets. |

TRANSLATION

"Living beings on doing the deeds of merit or demerit, or knowingly or unknowingly, will derive the resultant fruits of those deeds according to one's own destiny even after demise, and they shall bear them unrepentantly, may they be provident or improvident... [4-21-2]

PURPORT

For this verse Dharmaakuutam says: atra ca sva karama phala hetukamiti visheShaNena anaadi bhava parampara aasaadita dharma artha vaasanaa vashena shubham ashubham vaa karma anuShThaaya tad auruupam sukaham duHkham vaa phalam avaapnoti iti uktam -- dharmaakuutam Thus Hanuma is saying that Vali is not dead at the hand of Sugreeva but dead due his own demerits.
VERSE 3

शोच्या शोचसि कम् शोच्यम् दीनम् दीना अनुकंपसे
कः च कस्य अनुशोच्यो अस्ति देहे अस्मिन् बुद्बुद उपमे

śocyā śocasi kam śocyam dīnam dīnā anukaṃpase
kaḥ ca kasya anuśocyo asti dehe asmin budbuda upame

SYNONYMS

śocyā: a lamentable [you yourself] | śocyam kam śocasi: lamentable one, about whom, you are lamenting | dīnā: pitiable on [you yourself] | dīnam: [for which] piteous one | anukampase: quivering [pitying] | asmin dehe budbuda upame: for this, body, bubble, in similitude | kaḥ kasya anuśocyaḥ asti: who, for whom, lamentable, is there. |

TRANSLATION

"Of which lamentable one you lament while you yourself are in a lamentable state? Of which pitiable one you take pity while you yourself are in a pitiable condition? Who is pitiable by whom in these bubbles like bodies? [4-21-3]

VERSE 4

अंगदः तु कुमारो अयम् द्रष्टव्यो जीव पुत्रया
आयत्या च विधेयानि समर्थानि अस्य चिन्तय

aṃgadaḥ tu kumāro ayam draṣṭavyo jīva putrayā
āyatyā ca vidheyāni samarthāni asya cintaya

SYNONYMS

jīva putrayā: one who has a living, son | kumāraḥ ayam angadaḥ draṣṭavyaḥ: young one, this, Angada, is to be looked after | āyatyā ca = forthcoming: ensuing, also | asya vidheyāni samarthāni: by him, deeds of duty [funerals of Vali,] deeds for well-being | cintaya: are to be thought of. |

TRANSLATION

"You are the one with a living son, and you have to look after this young one Angada, and you have to think of the forthcoming activities for his well-being and for his performance of duty towards his father. [4-21-4]

VERSE 5

जानासि अनियताम् एवम् भूतानाम् आगतिम् गतिम्
तस्मात् शुभम् हि कर्तव्यम् पण्डितेन इह लौकिकम्

jānāsi aniyatām evam bhūtānām āgatim gatim
tasmāt śubham hi kartavyam paṇḍitena iha laukikam

SYNONYMS

bhūtānām āgatim gatim: living being's, coming, going [birth and death] | a niyatām evam: not, certain, thus | jānāsi: you are aware | tasmāt: therefore | paṇḍitena: by prudent one | iha laukikam śubham kartavyam hi: in here, worldly things, auspicious ones, are to be done, indeed. |

TRANSLATION

"You are aware that the coming and going of beings, in their subtle forms of earth, water, fire, air and space into this mortal life and back is uncertain, thereby the prudent ones have to perform auspicious worldly deeds here in this world, say, the funeral of Vali. [4-21-5]

VERSE 6

यस्मिन् हरि सहस्राणि शतानि नियुतानि च
वर्तयन्ति कृत आशानि सो अयम् दिष्टांतम् आगतः

yasmin hari sahasrāṇi śatāni niyutāni ca
vartayanti kṛta āśāni so ayam diṣṭāṃtam āgataḥ

SYNONYMS

yasmin: in whom [Vali] | kṛta āśāni: reposing, confidence | hari sahasrāṇi śatāni: monkeys, thousands, hundreds | niyutāni ca: harboured, also | vartayanti = abiding: living basing on him | saḥ ayam: such as he is | diṣṭa antam āgataḥ: fate's, end, he came. |

TRANSLATION

"In whom hundreds and thousands of monkeys are harboured and astir, for they have reposed their confidence in him alone, that Vali has arrived at his end. [4-21-6]

VERSE 7

यद् अयम् न्याय दृष्ट अर्थः साम दान क्षमा परः
गतो धर्म जिताम् भूमिम् न एनम् शोचितुम् अर्हसि

yad ayam nyāya dṛṣṭa arthaḥ sāma dāna kṣamā paraḥ
gato dharma jitām bhūmim na enam śocitum arhasi

SYNONYMS

nyāya dṛṣṭa arthaḥ = by justice, observed, having means: one who is observant of rationality, conducted himself judiciously | sāma dāna kṣamā paraḥ: friendliness, courteousness, forgivingness he was observing | ayam: this Vali | yat: by which reason | dharma jitām bhūmim gataḥ: by rightness, conquered, to domain, has gone | na enam śocitum arhasi: not, for him, your sorrowing, apt of you. |

TRANSLATION

"By which reason this Vali conducted himself judiciously, observing friendliness, courteousness and forgivingness, by that reason alone Vali is going to a domain in heavens which he righteously conquered for himself, and it is unapt of your sorrowing for him. [4-21-7]

VERSE 8

सर्वे च हरि शार्दूलाः पुत्रः च अयम् तव अंगदः
हरि ऋक्ष पति राज्यम् च त्वत् सनाथम् अनिन्दिते

sarve ca hari śārdūlāḥ putraḥ ca ayam tava aṃgadaḥ
hari ṛkṣa pati rājyam ca tvat sanātham anindite

SYNONYMS

a nindite: oh, impeccable one, Tara | sarve hari śārdūlāḥ: all, monkey, tigers | tava putraḥ: your, son | ayam angadaḥ ca: this, for Angada, and | hari ṛkṣa pati rājyam ca: monkeys, bear, lords, kingdom of, also | tvat: in you | sa nātham: is with, guardian. |

TRANSLATION

"All the tigerly-monkeys, oh, impeccable Tara, including this son of yours Angada, and all the lords of monkeys and bears have their guardian angel in you. [4-21-8]

VERSE 9

तौ इमौ शोक संतप्तौ शनैः प्रेरय भामिनि
त्वया परिगृहीतो अयम् अंगदः शास्तु मेदिनीम्

tau imau śoka saṃtaptau śanaiḥ preraya bhāmini
tvayā parigṛhīto ayam aṃgadaḥ śāstu medinīm

SYNONYMS

bhāmini: oh, lady | śoka samtaptau tau imau: in grief, searing, these, two = Sugreeva, Angada | śanaiḥ preraya: slowly, inspirit | tvayā parigṛhītaḥ: by you, taken up [acquiesce to] | ayam angadaḥ medinīm śāstu: this, Angada, the earth, rule over. |

TRANSLATION

"Oh, lady, inspirit these two, Sugreeva and Angada, that are searing in grief, and if you acquiesce then this Angada will rule over the earth. [4-21-9]

VERSE 10

संततिः च यथा दृष्टा कृत्यम् यत् च अपि सांप्रतम्
राज्ञः तत् क्रियताम् सर्वम् एष कालस्य निश्चयः

saṃtatiḥ ca yathā dṛṣṭā kṛtyam yat ca api sāṃpratam
rājñaḥ tat kriyatām sarvam eṣa kālasya niścayaḥ

SYNONYMS

santatiḥ yathā dṛṣṭā = progeny, as to hov, sīn kin scriptures: anticipated from a male descendent | sāmpratam rājñaḥ: presently, for king | yat kṛtyam ca api: which, is to be done, also even | tat sarvam kriyatām: that, all, is to done | eṣa kālasya niścayaḥ: this is, [befitting to] time's, decision. |

TRANSLATION

"Whatever duty anticipated from a male descendent towards his father, and whatever activity that is to be done presently in respect of the dying king, let them be done, and that would be a timely decision. [4-21-10]

PURPORT

This expression also means smashaana vyraagya 'burial-ground renunciation...' In that, 'all this has happened so according to Time's decision...' arthaa gR^ihaat nivartante aa smashaanaat tu baandhava | sukR^itam duShkR^itam caiva gacchantam anucacChgati || 'wealth and means remain in house, relatives come up to graveyard, only Merit and Demerit follow the goer...'
VERSE 11

संस्कार्यो हरि राजः तु अंगदः च अभिषिच्यताम्
सिंहासन गतम् पुत्रम् पश्यन्ती शान्तिम् एष्यसि

saṃskāryo hari rājaḥ tu aṃgadaḥ ca abhiṣicyatām
siṃhāsana gatam putram paśyantī śāntim eṣyasi

SYNONYMS

hari rājaḥ samskāryaḥ: monkeys, king, is to be cremated | angadaḥ ca abhiṣicyatām: Angada's, also, be anointed | simha āsana gatam: lion's, seat [throne,] invested | putram paśyantī śāntim eṣyasi: son, on seeing, peace, you can obtain. |

TRANSLATION

"Cremation of the king of monkeys and anointment of Angada are the present time affairs, and seeing your son invested on the throne you can obtain peace." Thus spoke Hanuma to Tara. [4-21-11]

VERSE 12

सा तस्य वचनम् श्रुत्वा भर्तृ व्यसन पीडिता
अब्रवीत् उत्तरम् तारा हनूमन्तम् अवस्थितम्

sā tasya vacanam śrutvā bhartṛ vyasana pīḍitā
abravīt uttaram tārā hanūmantam avasthitam

SYNONYMS

bhartṛ vyasana pīḍitā: husband's, by plight, tormented | sā tārā: she, Tara | tasya vacanam śrutvā: his [Hanuma's,] words, on hearing | avasthitam hanūmantam: available nearby, to Hanuma | uttaram abravīt: reply, spoke. |

TRANSLATION

On hearing Hanuma's words she who is tormented by the plight of her husband, that Tara replied Hanuma who is standing nearby. [4-21-12]

VERSE 13

अंगद प्रतिरूपाणाम् पुत्राणाम् एकतः शतम्
हतस्य अपि अस्य वीरस्य गात्र संश्लेषणम् वरम्

aṃgada pratirūpāṇām putrāṇām ekataḥ śatam
hatasya api asya vīrasya gātra saṃśleṣaṇam varam

SYNONYMS

angada prati rūpāṇām = āngada like, alternative, reflections: selfsame Angada-s | śatam: , hundred | putrāṇām: sons | ekataḥ: on one side | hatasya api asya vīrasya: struck dead, though, this, brave one's | gātra samśleṣaṇam varam: body, for embracing, the best. |

TRANSLATION

"Let there be a hundred selfsame Angada-s on one side, and this brave one the other, for me embracing him who is put to death is the best ... [4-21-13]

PURPORT

This verse is said to be difficulkt one to derive meaning kiSTa anvaya . There is another narration of this verse omitting the first foot of next stanza and it reads: kim kaaryam pati hiinayaaH putraaNaam ayutaiH api | pitR^ivyah tasya sugriivaH sarva kaaryeShu anantaraH ||
VERSE 14

न च अहम् हरि राज्यस्य प्रभवामि अंगदस्य वा
पितृव्यः तस्य सुग्रीवः सर्व कार्येषुइ अनंतरः

na ca aham hari rājyasya prabhavāmi aṃgadasya vā
pitṛvyaḥ tasya sugrīvaḥ sarva kāryeṣui anaṃtaraḥ

SYNONYMS

aham hari rājyasya ca: I am, for monkey's, kingdom, either | angadasya vā: of Angada, or | na prabhavāmi = not, capable: who am I | tasya: his [Angada's] | pitṛvyaḥ sugrīvaḥ: paternal-uncle, Sugreeva | sarva kāryeṣu anantaraḥ: in all, affairs, close at hand. |

TRANSLATION

"Who am I either for conducting the monkeys kingdom or to anoint Angada when Angada's paternal-uncle Sugreeva is close at hand? [4-21-14]

VERSE 15

न हि एषा बुद्धिः आस्थेया हनूमन् अंगदम् प्रति
पिता हि बंधुः पुत्रस्य न माता हरि सत्तम

na hi eṣā buddhiḥ āstheyā hanūman aṃgadam prati
pitā hi baṃdhuḥ putrasya na mātā hari sattama

SYNONYMS

hanuman: oh, Hanuma | angadam prati: Angada, towards | eṣā buddhiḥ: this kind of, thinking | na āstheyā hi: not, to be pursued, indeed | hari sattama: oh monkey, the best | putrasya: for son | pitā hi bandhuḥ: father, really, is the defender | na mātā: not, mother. |

TRANSLATION

"Hanuma, this thinking of yours that Angada is to be crowned is really untenable, oh, best monkey, father is the real defender of a son, but not the mother. [4-21-15]

VERSE 16

इति वाल्मीकि रामायणे आदि काव्ये किष्किन्ध काण्डे एक विंशः सर्गः

iti vālmīki rāmāyaṇe ādi kāvye kiṣkindha kāṇḍe eka viṃśaḥ sargaḥ

SYNONYMS

mama: to me | iha vā: here, either | paratra ca: other where, also | hari rāja: monkey's, king's | samśrayāt: than patronage | kṣama taram: befitting, highly | na asti hi: not, there, indeed | abhi mukha hata: when facing away, who is killed | vīra sevitam: by such brave one, adored | idam śayanam: this, [death] bed | sevitum mama kṣamam = to adore: join in the death bed, to me, befitting. |

TRANSLATION

"Indeed there is nothing highly befitting to me, either in this world or in the other, than the auspices of the king of monkeys, and now to me the only befitting thing is to join in this brave one on this death bed, which he is adoring when put to death while he is facing away. [4-21-16]